No nukes: Australia must push for serious global nuclear disarmament | Tilman Ruff

Nuclear weapons are still a threat to humanity. In our age of uncertainty, Australia isn’t doing enough to rid the world of these weapons. On this episode, Paul Barclay is joined by Dr Tilman Ruff, co-founder of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) to discuss Australia's ro…

Where to now for Indigenous justice? | Thomas Mayo

After the failure of the Voice referendum, achieving justice for Indigenous Australians remains more important than ever. This demands keeping hope alive. On this episode, Thomas Mayo joins Paul Barclay to discuss the Voice referendum, the use of Indigenous issues as a political football, disinfor…

Making climate action urgent and equitable | Sunita Narain

The climate crisis is an inequality crisis. Australia needs to pay attention to equity and inclusion and enable sustainable development for countries in energy poverty. On this episode Sunita Narain joins Paul Barclay to discuss the need for inclusive and equitable growth in tackling climate chang…

Can you put a price on nature? | Bob Brown

Nature is priceless. It’s Monty Pythonesque to think that pricing nature will stop extinctions or protect the planet. On this episode of Big Ideas, former senator Bob Brown joins Paul Barclay to discuss the ‘price of extinction’, how monetising the environment won’t save it, the corporate capture …

Safe to speak: protecting the whistleblower | Kieran Pender

For most would-be whistleblowers, the cost of courage is way too high. A whistleblower protection authority would ease their path. On this episode, Paul Barclay talks with Kieran Pender, associate legal director at the Human Rights Law Centre. Kieran says that current laws leave whistleblowers uns…

One vote. One value. | Christine Milne

Australians know how to solve national problems, but our political system protects the duopoly that creates them. That’s why we need proportional representation. On this episode, Paul Barclay is joined by former senator Christine Milne who brings her expertise and insights on how proportional repr…

Protecting your ABC | Alex Sloan

The ABC is always under attack. The best thing we can do for democracy is defend it. On this episode, Paul Barclay talks with Alex Sloan about the importance of independent public broadcasters, why they need to be well-funded in an increasingly privately-owned media landscape, and how they are the…

What does good cultural leadership look like? | Louise Adler

There’s nothing indulgent about public funding for Australian culture. More funds would fix many of the sector’s problems.  On this episode, Adelaide Writers Week director Louise Adler joins Paul Barclay to talk about the biggest challenges facing the arts sector, including higher costs and prices…

Australia has power, why don’t we act like it? | Allan Behm

In a world of uncertainty, it is more important than ever for Australia to stop dismissing ourselves as a ‘middle power’ and start exerting our influence on the global stage.  On this episode, Allan Behm joins Paul Barclay to discuss Australia’s diplomatic strategy of ‘pre-emptive capitulation’, A…

A rich country in a housing crisis? | Maiy Azize

To end the housing crisis, governments need to stop subsidising private investors and instead directly invest in social housing.  On this episode, Maiy Azize joins Paul Barclay to discuss the housing crisis, how the government stopped directly providing housing and started subsidising private inve…